Drive the streets of Paris, Rome, Barcelona or London and you'll see the smart fortwo has become more than just fuel efficient transportation - it has become the "it" car in many countries throughout the world. In fact, we could say that the over one million smart fortwos sold in over 40 countries are now a worldwide statement on innovation, intelligence, functionality and the simple joy of driving.

Preparations for the smart fortwo began in the early 1990's with a Joint Venture between Mercedes-Benz and Swatch, the makers of Swatch watches known for their wide array of colorful designs. Nicolas Hayek, the inventor of the Swatch watch brought his ideas for an "ultra-urban" car to Mercedes-Benz.

• smart remains a vital member of Mercedes-Benz Cars, a Daimler AG Company.
• smart USA, a division of Penske Automotive Group [NYSE:PAG], is the exclusive distributor for smart in the United States and Puerto Rico. smart USA is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Mercedes-Benz took on this engineering challenge with the outcome of one of the most innovative cars ever introduced.

Full development of the concept started in 1994 and the smart fortwo debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in 1997. The response was fantastic. The smart fortwo garnered more press coverage than any other car at the show.

Production began in 1998 in Hambach, France. That same year, smart became a 100% owned subsidiary of Daimler-Benz AG.

The challenge of the smart fortwo design started with the approach to safety. The tridion safety cell was Mercedes-Benz's answer for a small car that can meet high safety standards. The tridion safety cell is a "hard shell" that surrounds the smart fortwo's occupants with an energy displacing system of longitudinal and transverse structural members. Then the engineering team added Electronic Stability Control (esp®) and ABS brakes to make the smart even more technologically advanced.

Other innovations like the selection of energy efficient and recyclable materials, the removable door panels (you have many options to change the color of your smart as you desire) and a high driving position for great visibility and easy entry in a small car combined to make smart a true revolution in driving style.

When Daimler announced in June 2006, that it was bringing the smart brand to the United States through a distributorship with the Penske Automotive Group, the euphoria from American consumers was overwhelming. That euphoria has since turned to fanaticism and the smart fortwo is now part of the landscape of our streets throughout America.

On January 16, 2008, the United States became the 37th country to sell the smart fortwo when the first delivery was made to a Manhattan resident in New Jersey. Nearly 25,000 smart fortwos were sold in the United States in 2008.

The key to the initial success in America is the realization that the smart fortwo is the right car at the right time. Shortly after launch, the price of fuel in the U.S. skyrocketed and fuel prices continue to fluctuate today. Combined with efforts to be environmentally responsible and finding solutions for urban congestion, the smart fortwo quickly became an attractive vehicle option for many American consumers.

The smart fortwo offers a high level of fuel efficiency, comfort, agility, safety and ecology. smart expresses the lifestyle of an enlightened and forward-thinking social class that cannot be defined by age or social standing, but rather by attitude, lifestyle and an open-minded outlook on life.

The smart fortwo is the first vehicle to enter the “micro car” segment in the united States. The smart customer transcends specific traditional buying segments: entry level buyers, urban dwellers, baby boomers and empty nesters. The smart fortwo buyer is characterized by take charge people, typically early adopters, who make a statement about who they are through the products they buy.

About the smart fortwo

The smart fortwo is available in five trim levels, starting at $11,990, and is one of the most economical cars on U.S. roads today, achieving an average of 33/41 miles to the gallon (city/highway) according to 2009 U.S. EPA ratings. It is ranked as the most fuel efficient, non-hybrid vehicle on sale in the United States today. In addition, the vehicle already exceeds the 2016 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, and is classified as an Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). It is also certified by the EPA as a "Smartway" vehicle.

The ecology of the smart fortwo does not stop there. Ninety-five percent of the vehicle is recyclable and the dash material is made from recycled synthetics. In addition, the "smartville" factory in Hambach, France, where the vehicle is produced, is one of the most modern and environmentally friendly plants in the world.

The vehicle earned the highest front and side crashworthiness ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and received high marks in crash tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), including a top five-star rating for side impact protection.